This year is the 25th anniversary of World Book Day and students and staff across our schools will be celebrating by putting on their best fancy dress and sharing their love of reading and telling stories.
We caught up with members of staff from across the Trust to share their favourite books, compiling a list of must reads.
Senior Director of English, Tamsin Page, kicked us off with A Room With a View written by EM Forster. She said: “I think the best thing that has ever been written is Hamlet, but my favourite book to snuggle up with is A Room with a View. It is the literary equivalent of buttery mashed potato and keeps me warm and happy whenever I read it.”
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was the choice of Carole Moss, Headteacher at Northstowe Secondary College, which reflects on living life without regrets and is a celebration of life’s possibilities.
Richard Spencer, Executive Principal for CMAT, chose Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro which he read for the first time as part of his A Level studies. He said: “It’s a wonderful novel with profound reflections on class, unrequited love and pre-war Britain. It breaks my heart but is a beautiful read.”
Sam Fox, Principal of North Cambridge Academy, recommended The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandra Dumas. He said: “In different times this book has bought me comfort and joy. A reminder that challenges can be overcome with hope and patience. A reminder that human potential is infinite and that we should use this potential wisely to ensure a better world.”
EYFS class teacher at Harrold Primary Academy, Suzanne Worrall, chose Richard O’Neill and Katharine Quarmby’s Ossiri and the Bala Mengro. She said: “It’s a special book to me as a travelling family gave it to me as a thank you present when they were setting off on their travels and their little boy was leaving my early years setting. It’s about a little girl whose family is part of the travelling community. They recycle and reuse everything they can. It’s a lovely story about following your dreams.”
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle was the top choice of our CEO, Mark Woods, selected for its ordered logical storytelling which Mark finds comforting and clever in equal measure.
Lesley Birch, CEO of our friends at Cambridge Primary Education Trust, selected Treasure Island as her favourite book, reflecting on its humour and vast array of fun and interesting characters.
Sarah Flack, Headteacher at Sawtry Junior Academy, shared a lovely story about her book of choice, Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery, and a picture of her with her original copy.
She said: “My Nana bought me a copy of it when I was 8 and I loved it. The character Anne was so engaging – she was far from perfect and made lots of mistakes but always with the best of intentions – and that resonated with me. It is also a book I have gone back to time and time again as an adult.
One day I still hope to visit Prince Edward Island and Avonlea which sounded like the most beautiful place on Earth to live! I think this was the first book that could make me feel both incredibly happy one minute and the opposite in another chapter and I loved that complexity of the story.”
Pictured below is the team at Lantern Community Primary School who marked the event with a tribute to the fantastic Harry Potter series!
